Hustle heads Stateside

Hustle: US cable channel AMC has signed up as a co-production partner for series three
Photograph: BBC

BBC1's con artist drama Hustle has joined the growing band of British shows being sold to US cable networks.

American cable channel AMC has bought the first two series of Hustle, which stars Adrian Lester, Robert Vaughn, Robert Glenister, Marc Warren and Jamie Murray as a gang of grifters pulling off complicated scams.

In an unusual move for a US broadcaster, AMC, which began life as a classic movies service but is now broadening its programming, has also signed up as a co-production partner for series three of Hustle and taken an option to invest in a fourth run.

"Hustle is the epitome of cinematic cool, a tribute to the great heist and caper films of the past, which will fit perfectly within our slate of original programmes," said Rob Sorcher, the executive vice president of AMC.

"Like recent films Oceans 11 and The Italian Job, film fans will love this series. It is sophisticated, timeless, stylish and fun and it will be a great addition to our original programming."

Hustle joins Spooks, another high-concept BBC1 drama made by UK independent producer Kudos, on US cable TV. The spy drama is broadcast on the A&E network, renamed MI5.

Another cable channel, BBC America, is providing a US home for a lot of British drama. BBC America's line-up includes Footballers' Wives, Bodies, Cold Feet, Blackpool, Monarch of the Glen, Murphy's Law, Teachers and Shameless.